Refrigerator cabinet

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION PROVIDES A CASING WHICH MAY BE USED FOR A REFRIGERATOR PROVIDES A CASING WHICH MAY BE USED FOR A MULTIPART OUTER CASING PART INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF PLATES AND SECTION BARS, AN INJECTED INSULATING LAYER OF A FOAM PLASTICS MATERIAL FILLING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO CASING PARTS AND CONNECTING THEM TOGETHER AND A ONE PIECE BASE PLATE FORMING PART OF THE OUTER CASING PART, BEING OF A PLASTICS MATERIAL AND HAVING SOCKET SUPPORTS FOR THE PLATES, SECTION BARS AND INNER CASING PART.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,152,199 10/1964 Roberts 312/214 3,489,477 1/1970 Harder 312/214 FOREIGN PATENTS 864,965 4/1961 Great Britain 312/214 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney-B. P. Fishburne, Jr.

ABSTRACT: The invention provides a casing which may be used for a refrigerator and which has a one piece inner casing part, a multipart outer casing part including a plurality of plates and section bars, an injected insulating layer of a foam plastics material filling the space between the two casing parts and connecting them together and a one piece base plate forming part of the outer casing part, being of a plastics material and having socket supports for the plates, section bars and inner casing part.

PAnminJuuesl n 3588.214.

SHEET 1 OF 5 INVENTUR A [be rf'o Sf/mam l y/l o BY 6 F ATTORNI'IY PATENTED JUN28 I97! SHEET 2 BF 5 INVENTOR Al/acr/o f'irnamig/l'a ATTORNEY PATENTED JUN2 8 M SHEET t [1F 5 INVENTOR Albcr'lo Sfimamig/id BY 0. p ww ATTORNEY PATENTED JUN28 I971 SHEET 5 BF 5 INVENT OR Y I WW .w m mWA I MM wk 00! 6 M REFRIGERATOR CABINET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a casing having particular, though not exclusive, application to refrigerators, and including a one-piece interior, made for example of a plastics material, a multipart outer casing portion composed of plates and sec tional bars, and an injected insulating layer of foam plastic material filling the space between the two casing parts and joining them together.

In refrigerator casings of this type the entire casing is first assembled loosely and then the foam plastics material is injected through at least one hole provided in the outer part of the casing into the space between the outer and innercasing parts. After solidification of the injected foam plastics material the latter not only forms the insulating layer of the refrigerator casing, but also makes a firm connection between the inner and outer casing parts and between the individual plates and section bars of the outer part of the casing. Holding the individual components and adjusting them accurately in relation to one another when the refrigerator casing is loosely assembled nevertheless give rise to fairly great difficulties and require complicated, time-consuming assembly work, which in turn has an unfavorable effect on the cost ofmanufacture.

The problem underlying the invention is to reduce these diffieulties which occur with known heat insulating casings and to provide a heat insulating casing ofthe above-described type which can be assembled substantially more simply and more rapidly with little expense for labour and which consequently also permits substantial saving in cost.

SUMMARY According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a casing which may be used for a refrigerator, having a one-piece inner casing part, a lower downwardly bent front edge on the inner casing part, a multipart outer casing part, a plurality of plates and section bars included in the outer casing part, an injected insulating layer of a foam plastics material filling the space between the two casing parts and connecting the latter together, and a one-piece base plate forming a part of the outer casing part and being made of a plastics material and provided with socket supports for the plates and section bars of the outer casing part, and also for the lower downwardly bent front edge of the inner casing part.

For the assembly of a refrigerator casing constructed in accordance with the invention the vertical plates and the vertical section bars of an outer casing part which connect the plates simply have to be inserted into the appropriate socket supports in a one-piece base plate made of a plastics material, whereupon these components immediately assume the exact prescribed position in relation to one another while they or the casing wall formed from them have adequate stability. A onepiece inner casing part is then inserted into the resulting stable casing wall and fastened thereto on the one hand by the inser tion of its lower downwardly bent front edge into the appropriate socket support on the base plate and on the other hand by the insertion of its vertical front edges, which are bent over sideways and outwardly, into the corresponding section bars which are already assembled. This assembly step can also be carried out quickly and in a simple manner, while the inner casing part is immediately adjusted to its exact position in relation to the base plate and to the previously assembled wall of the outer casing part and is firmly connected to these components. Finally, it is simply necessary to place in position a cover plate of the outer casing part and to secure the cover plate by means of section bars to the vertical plates of the outer casing part and to the upper upwardly bent front edge of the inner casing part. A refrigerator casing loosely assembled in this manner and constructed on and held together by the one-piece base plate is given extremely great stability in addition to very accurate adjustment of the individual components in relation to one another, and it can be transported or handled without any danger of displacement of the individual components in relation to one another. After the foam plastics material has been injected into the space left free between the outer and inner parts of the casing, these two parts and the individual components of the multipart outer casing part are firmly joined together to form an integral whole.

In one embodiment of the invention, the stability of the loosely assembled refrigerator casing is still further increased by constructing the socket supports provided on the base plate to provide, at least in part, a clamp fit connection to the associated casing components.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the socket supports for the vertical plates of the outer casing part and for the bottom downwardly bent front edge of the inner casing part are in the form of corresponding socket grooves provided on the upper side of the base plate, in the edge regions of the latter, and bounded in each case by two parallel projecting webs. In order to achieve a clamp fit, the bounding webs of these socket grooves, or preferably at least the bounding webs of the socket groove for the bottom downwardly bent front edge of the inner casing part, may be constructed so that they can be opened out resiliently. In this case it is particularly advantageous for the outer bounding web of the socket groove to be made rigid and for the inner bounding web to be made resilient. In addition, it is convenient for the inner, resilient bounding web of the socket grooves to be composed of individual portions in the form of clamp tongues which are spaced apart and independent of one another.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the socket supports for the vertical section bars of the outer casing part are in the form of correspondingly profiled hollow sockets provided on the upper side of the base plate, at least in the corner regions of the latter, and engaging around the bottom ends of the section bars, and/or in the form of projections, the tops of which are engaged by the cavities of the section bars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows in vertical cross section a refrigerator casing,

FIG. 2 shows in perspective the one-piece base plate of the refrigerator casing according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base plate,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the base plate along the line IV-IV in FIG, 3,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are vertical sections through the base plate on the lines V-V and VI-VI in FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 shows in perspective the refrigerator casing according to FIG. I, with components partly cut through or removed,

FIG. 8 is a cross section through the vertical section bar for connecting a side plate of the outer casing part to the corresponding side edge, bent over outwards, of the inner casing part,

FIG. 9 shows the socket support provided on the base plate for the section bar according to FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is a cross section through the vertical section bar for connecting a side plate of the outer casing part to the rear plate of the latter,

FIG. 11 shows the socket support provided on the base plate for the section bar illustrated in FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 shows the socket support for the rear plate of the outer casing part in vertical cross section, and

FIG. 13 shows the socket support for the bottom downwardly bent front edge of the inner casing part, in vertical cross section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings there is shown a refrigerator casing which consists of a one-piece inner casing part I, the socalled refrigerating container, and of a multipart outer casing part 2. The free space left on all sides between these two casing parts I and 2 is filled with an injected foam plastics material, which in the particular embodiment is expanded polyurethane, and which forms an insulating layer 3 and also makes a firm connection between the casing parts I and 2 and between the individual components of the outer casing part 2.

The one-piece inner casing part I is preferably made of a plastics material and has a front opening with a downwardly bent lower edge 11, an upwardly bent upper edge 12, and outwardly bent side edges 13.

The multipart outer casing part 2 is composed of a base plate 4, two vertical sideplates 5 and 6, a vertical rear plate 7, and a top horizontal cover plate 8, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 7. The two side plates 5 and 6 are connected on the one hand to the rear plate 7 with the aid of two vertical rear section bars 9, and on the other hand to the associated outwardly bent side edges 13 of the inner casing part 1 with the aid of two vertical front section bars 14. The cover plate 8 is connected to the side plates 5 and 6 with the aid of corresponding horizontal side section bars 15. In addition, the cover plate 9 is connected on the one hand to the rear plate 7 with the aid ofa vertical rear section bar 16 and on the other hand to the upper upwardly bent front edge 12 of the inner casing part 1 with the aid ofa horizontal front section bar 17.

The two vertical front section bars 14 and the top front section bar 17 have the same cross-sectional form, which is illustrated for the bar 14 in FIG. 8. In particular, these section bars have a closed rectangular hollow space 18 and two side, forkshaped arms 19 and 20 which are at right angles to one another and into which the components to be connected by the section barfor example as illustrated in FIG. 8 the side plate 5 and the front of the outwardly bent side edge 13 of the inner casing part 1-are inserted. In addition, the section bars 14 and 17 have two bent over, inwardly projecting anchoring webs 21 and 22, which bound a channel 23 having constricted, inwardly directed opening. The foam plastics material injected between the two casing parts 1 and 2 fills this channel 23 in the section bars 14 and I7 and thereby firmly anchors these bars to the insulating layer 3.

The two vertical rear section bars 9, the two side top section bars 15, and the rear top section bar 16 on the other hand have the cross-sectional shape illustrated in FIG. for the rear vertical section bar 9. In particular, these section bars 9, IS, and 16 have a rectangular profile with forked arms 24 and 25 into which the plates to be connected by respective section bar-for example as illustrated for the section bar 9 in FIG. 10 a vertical side plate 5 and the vertical rear plate 7are inserted. On the inner side of this angle section there are provided projecting, bent over anchoring webs 26 and 27 which bound a channel 28 having an approximately triangular cross section and a constricted, inwardly directed aperture.

The base plate 4 is made of a plastics material in a single piece and has a raised rear portion 104. The space formed below this raised portion 104 of the base plate serves to accommodate the motor-compressor unit 29 of the refrigerator, as illustrated particularly in FIG. I. The bottom wall 101 of the inner casing part I is naturally also raised in its rear region, corresponding to the raising of the base plate part 104.

The base plate 4 and 104 is provided with socket supports for the vertical plates 5, 6 and 7 and for the vertical section bars 9 and 14 of the outer casing part 2, and also for the lower downwardly bent front edge 11 of the inner casing part 1. The socket supports for the two vertical side plates 5 and 6 of the outer casing part 2 are in the form of corresponding socket grooves 35 and 36, which are provided in the respective side edge regions of the base plate 4 and are bounded in each case by two parallel webs 30 and 31 projecting upwards from the base plate 4, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 9 and II. The socket support for the vertical rear plate 7 consists of an insertion groove 37 provided on the top edge of the raised portion 104 of the base plate, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. l1 and 12. The insertion grooves 35, 36 and 37 are preferably designed so that the corresponding plates 5, 6 and 7 are held therein with a clamp fit.

To serve as a socket support for the lower downwardly bent front edge 11 of the inner casing part I there is provided, on

the associated front edge of the base plate I, a corresponding insertion groove 32 which, on the outside, is bounded by a substantially rigid outer web 33 and, on the inside, by individual spring tongues 34 which are spaced apart. The inner, resilient bounding tongues 34 of this insertion groove are so constructed that in the position of rest, that is to say before insertion of the lower front edge ll of the inner casing part 1, they lie at least by their top part against the rigid outer web 34 or are inclined towards the latter, and constrict the opening of the insertion groove 32 to a smaller size than the thickness of the edge 11, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 13. On insertion of the lower front edge I] of the inner casing part 1 into the insertion groove 32, the elastic bounding tongues 34 are lifted resiliently off the rigid outer web 34, or bent resiliently inwards. The lower front edge 11 of the inner casing part 1 is thereby held fast in the respective insertion groove 32 with an elastic clamp fit.

The insertion grooves 32, 35, 36 and 37 or the webs 30, 31 and 33 and tongues 34 bounding the ends of the grooves at a distance from the corners of the base plate, and there are provided in these free, flat corner regions of the base plate 4 the socket supports for the vertical section bars 9 and 14. Each of the socket supports for the front section bars 14 consists of two rectangular projections 38 and 39 on the base plate 4, or which the onereferenced 38 engages the rectangular cavity I8 and the other referenced 39 engages the channel 23, which is open on the inside, in the associated section bar I4, preferably with a clamp fit, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 9. The socket supports for the two rear section bars 9 consist in each case of a triangular projection 40 which is provided on the base plate 4 and which engages, preferably likewise with a clamp fit, the channel 28 provided in the associated angle section bar 9 and open on the inside, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 10.

On the outer web 33 of the front insertion groove 32 on the base plate 4 there are formed at both ends vertical, laterally projecting tongues 41 which are inserted below the lateral outwardly bent front edges 13 of the inner casing part I and into the associated forked arms 19 of the front vertical section bars 14. Similar tongues 42 are also provided on the rear vertical edges of the raised part I04 of the base plate and engage below the rear plate 7 and into the associated forked arms 25 of the vertical rear angle section bars 9.

On the upper side of the base plate 4 there are provided undercut anchoring webs or projections 43, which for example are hooked or angular in cross section or are provided with some other extended head part, and which ensure firm, reliable connection of the base plate 4 and 104 to the insulating layer 4 of the foam plastics material. Metal inserts 44, for example screw, nuts or the like, are embedded in the side edge parts of the base plate 4 and serve to fasten the latter to a supporting or foot frame or base, (not illustrated). In the cavity 18in one front vertical section bar 14 there may be disposed a correspondingly profiled magnet bar which holds the refrigerator door (likewise not illustrated) fast in the closed position. The plates 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the outer casing part 2 may be made of any desired material, for example wood, metal, or plastics and may also be in the form of composite plates. The section bars 9, l4, l5, l6, and 17 may be made of metal or plastics.

The above-described refrigerator casing is assembled in the following manner. The two side plates 5 and 6 and the rear plate 7 of the outer casing part 2 are first inserted into the associated insertion grooves 35, 36 and 37 on the base plate 4 and connected together by the vertical section bars 14 and 19 secured on the appropriate projections 38, 39 and 40 respectively on the base plate 4. The inner casing part I is then inserted and its bottom downwardly bent front edge II engages the appropriate insertion groove 32 in the base plate 4, while its front edges 13 bent over laterally in the outward direction, are inserted into the associated forked arms 19 of the two vertical front section bars 14. Finally, the cover plate 8 provided with the sections I5, 16 and 17 is fitted, the front section bar l7 fitting onto the upwardly bent top front edge 12 of the inner casing part 1 and the other section bars 15 and 16 on the associated plates 5, 6 and 7. Foam plastics material is injected into the gap between the outer part 2 and inner part 1 of the loosely assembled refrigerator casing supported by the base plate 4, for example through holes (not illustrated) in the vertical rear plate 7, the foam plastics material not only forming the insulating layer 3 but also securely fastening the individual components of the refrigerator casing to one another and to the base plate 4.

The invention is naturally not restricted to the preferred embodiment illustrated, but within the scope of the claims a number of different solutions are possible, particularly with regard to the construction of the socket supports on the base plate.

I claim:

1. A casing which may be used for a refrigerator, having a one-piece inner casing part, a lower downwardly bent front edge on the inner casing part, a multipart outer casing part, a plurality of plates and section bars included in said outer casing part, an injected insulating layer ofa foam plastics material filling the space between the two casing parts and connecting the latter together, and a one-piece base plate forming a part of the outer casing part and being made of plastics material and provided with socket supports for the plates and section bars of the outer casing part, and also for said lower downwardly bent front edge of the inner casing part, said socket supports constructed at least in part to form a clamp fit connection with the associated components of the outer casing part, said base plate including two parallel projecting webs on its upper side and at edge regions of the latter providing insertion grooves which form the socket supports for the plates of the outer casing part and for said lower downwardly bent front edge of the inner casing part.

2. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the parallel projecting webs providing the insertion grooves are constructed so that they can be opened out resiliently.

3. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the outer of the parallel projecting webs are stiff and rigid and the inner of the parallel projecting webs are resilient.

4. A casing according to claim 3, wherein the inner, resilient projecting web consists of individual portions in the form of tongues which are spaced apart and independent of one another.

5. A casing which may be used for a refrigerator, having a one-piece inner casing part, a lower downwardly bent front edge on the inner casing part, a multipart outer casing part including a plurality of plates and section bars, an injected insulating layer of foam plastics material filling the space between the inner and outer casing parts and serving to interconnect the same, and a one-piece base plate forming a part of the outer casing part and being made of plastics material, said one-piece base plate having socket supports on its upper side for the plates and section bars of said outer casing part and also for said lower downwardly bent front edge, said socket supports being hollow and profiled to conform to the section bars of the outer casing part and being located at least in the corner regions of said base plate and adapted to engage around the bottom ends of the section bars.

6. A casing according to claim 5, including undercut projections on the upper side of the base for anchoring the insulating layer of foam plastics material.

7. A casing according to claim 6, having a rear portion of the base plate raised to enable a motor-compressor unit to be accommodated and an insertion groove for a plate of the outer casing part provided on the upper edge of the raised portion of the base plate.

8. A casing according to claim 7, having projecting tongues which engage corresponding grooves in the section bars, the tongues being arranged at the sides of the raised rear portion of the base plate and on the rigid outer bounding web of the insertion groove for the lower front edge of the inner casing 9. A casing according to claim 8, having metal inserts embedded in the base plate for connection to a supporting frame or the like. 

